this post is good, and you should feel good about yourself. if you find that difficult, here are some simple exercises that can help:

Make affirming lists. Making lists, rereading them often and rewriting them from time to time will help you to feel better about yourself. If you have a journal, you can write your lists there. If you don't, any piece of paper will do. You can make lists of: - At least five of your strengths. For example, persistence, courage, intelligence, friendliness and creativity - At least five things you admire about yourself. For example, your good relationships with your family and friends, your spirituality or how you take care of your pet. - The five greatest achievements in your life so far, like recovering from a serious health condition, graduating from high school or learning something new. - At least 20 accomplishments. They can be as simple as meeting someone new to getting an advanced degree. - Ten ways you can "treat" or reward yourself that don't include food and that don't cost anything, such as walking in the woods, window-shopping, watching children play on a playground, gazing at a beautiful flower or chatting with a friend. - Ten things you can do to make yourself laugh. - Ten things you can do to help someone else. - Ten things that you can do that make you feel good about yourself.

Reinforce a positive self image. To do this exercise you will need a piece of paper, a pencil or pen and a timer or clock. Any kind of paper will do, but if you have paper and a pen you really like, that will be even better. Set a timer for ten minutes or note the time on your watch or a clock. Write your name across the top of the paper. Then write everything positive and good you can think of about yourself. Keep these tips in mind when completing the activity: - Include special attributes, talents and achievements. - You can use single words or sentences, whichever you prefer. - You can write the same things over and over if you want to emphasize them.
- Don't worry about spelling or grammar. Your ideas don't have to be organized. Write down whatever comes to mind. You are the only one who will see this paper. - Avoid making any negative statements or using any negative words—only positive ones. When the ten minutes are up, read the paper over to yourself. Read the paper over again several times. Put it in a convenient place–your pocket, purse, wallet or the table beside your bed. Find a private space and read it aloud, Read it over to yourself at least several times a day to keep reminding yourself of how great you are! If you can, read it to a good friend or family member who is supportive.

Develop positive affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that you can make about yourself that make you feel better about yourself. They describe ways you would like to feel about yourself all the time. They may not always describe how you feel about yourself right now. The following examples of affirmations may help you in making your own list of affirmations. - I feel good about myself. - I take good care of myself. I eat right, get plenty of exercise, do things I enjoy, get good health care and attend to my personal hygiene needs. - I spend time with people who are nice to me and make me feel good about myself. - I am a good person. - I deserve to be alive. - Many people like me. Make a list of your own affirmations. Keep this list in a handy place, like your pocket or purse. You may want to make copies of your list so you can have them in several different places for easy access. Read the affirmations over and over to yourself—aloud whenever you can. Share them with others if that feels right. Write them down from time to time. As you do this, the affirmations tend to gradually become true for you. You gradually come to feel better and better about yourself.

Develop a personal "celebratory scrapbook" and place to honor yourself. Develop a scrapbook that celebrates you and the wonderful person you are. Include pictures of yourself at different ages, writings you enjoy, mementoes of things you have done, places you have been, cards you have received and related items. You can also set up a place in your home that celebrates "you." It could be on a bureau, shelf or table. Decorate the space with objects that remind you of the special person you are. If you don't have a private space that you can leave set up, put the objects in a special bag, box or your purse. Take them out and look at them whenever you need a boost.

Do an appreciation exercise. At the top of a sheet of paper write, "I like _____ (your name) because…" Have friends, acquaintances and family members write an appreciative statement about you on it. When you read it, don't deny it and don't argue with what has been written, just accept it! Read this paper over and over. Keep it in a place where you will see it often.

Keep a self-esteem calendar. Get a calendar with large blank spaces for each day. Schedule into each day at least one small thing that you enjoy doing. Make a commitment to check your "enjoy life" calendar every day and do that small thing you scheduled for yourself. Activities on the calendar can include: - Going into a flower shop and smelling the flowers. - Calling a family member or friend. - Buying a new CD. - Baking brownies. - Wearing your favorite scent. - Lying in the sun for 20 minutes.

Have a mutual complimenting session. Get together with a person you like and trust for ten minutes. Set a timer for five minutes or note the time on a watch or clock. One of you begins the session by complimenting the other person—saying everything positive about the other person—for the first five minutes. Then the other person does the same thing for the next five minutes. Notice how you feel about yourself before and after this exercise. Repeat it often.

Find self-esteem resources. Go to your library and look up books on self-esteem. Read one or several of them. Try some of the suggested activities you find in the books. As you work on building your self-esteem you will notice that you feel better, that you enjoy your life more than you did before and that you are doing more of the things that you have always wanted to do, including maintaining healthy relationships.